Giants ready to renew rivalry with Dodgers - Yahoo Sports

Giants - Dodgers running neck and neck for the divisional title face-off this weekend with both teams looking to avoid the wild card, do or die game.

from Yahoo Sports:
Giants ready to renew rivalry with Dodgers - Yahoo Sports:

PHILADELPHIA -- The San Francisco Giants hit the road after the All-Star break and took care of BUSINESS.

Now the fun begins.

 After a 5-2 trip away from the Bay Area, the first-place Giants (57-45) welcome the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers (56-47) to AT&T Park for a three-game weekend series that has must-see entertainment written all over it.

'via Blog this'

In the NL, it looks as if the Nationals are the top team in the league over the Giants and Dodgers, but not by much. All three are low 90's win teams. The Nats advantage is that they seem to have distanced themselves from the Braves, who are positioned as the second wild card team, with the first wild card being the Dodgers - Giants consolation prize.

The Central Division is developing into a mud wrestling match between the Brewers, Pirates and Cardinals all struggling at the 85-86 win pace and  the Reds drifting towards an 81 win,  .500 type finish. The Cardinals could really make a move here if they can pry David Price from the Rays.

Let the tussling begin.

My NL Power Ranking as of today:

** Nationals - 92 Wins

** Giants - 91 Wins

** Dodgers - 90 Wins

** Braves - 88 Wins

** Cardinals - 88 Wins

Brewers - 87 Wins 

Pirates - 85 Wins 

Reds - 81 Wins

** - Playoff Teams

In the American League, things are a bit clearer at the top with a competitive race for the Wild Card spots shaping up as well. 

The A's and Angels will battle it out for the division with the loser facing the wild-card death match. Both teams seem to be hovering around the 95 win pace. The Tigers seem to have the Central in hand with a low 90's win season. 

For now, the Orioles appear to be the class of the AL East, but appear destined for an 86-88 win season.

The Mariners and Blue Jays appear to be the class of the wild-card contenders, both headed for an 85 win finish. The Yankees, Indians, Royals and Rays seem destined for the 80-82 win mark which will leave them short of the mark. 

The Rays will signal their organizational confidence level in a playoff finish by either dealing Price/Zobrist or keeping them both and mounting a challenge. The Royals have already signaled their lack of confidence.  

My AL Power Ranking as of today:
** Angels - 96 Wins
** A's - 94 Wins
** Tigers - 92 Wins
** Orioles - 87 Wins
** Mariners - 85 Wins
Blue Jays - 85 Wins
Indians - 83 Wins
Yankees - 83 Wins
Rays - 81 Wins
Royals - 81 Wins
** - Playoff Teams

P.S. - If the Giants do get involved in the Price / Zobrist sweepstakes,

I would favor any deal that includes:
RHP Chris Stratton
RHP Martin Agosta
LHP Edwin Escobar
LHP Steven Okert (has potential as a closer or worse-case, a LOOGY)

I will lose my lunch over any deal that includes:
LHP Ty Blach
RHP Clayton Blackburn
RHP Derek Law (injured)
RHP Kendry Flores
RHP Keury Mella
LHP Adalberto Mejia (OK, maybe I could live with this one)
RHP Kyle Crick (although maybe after a good nights sleep, I could live with this one as well)